Thursday, September 10, 2009

Don’t we need to look into ourselves and change our way of life?

We very often keep blaming, our relatives, our neighbours, our District, Provincial and Federal governments for our woes, to some extent may be rightly, but at times, willfully or ignorantly disregard the fact that it may be because of our own modes and behaviour, tradition and culture and callous way of life. Is it not a fact that when it comes to demanding, we are not willing to accept anything less than what the citizens in civilized societies are enjoying, but would pay no heed to the duties and responsibilities that a civilized society citizens voluntarily discharge? It is rightly said that first deserve and then demand. Let us not forget that good governance that we all keep yearning would only come through, if the different tiers of the government as well as the people at large discharge their duties and responsibilities to the society honestly.

Aerial firing in celebrations, may it be on the eve of wedding, the birth of a son, the sighting of the moon falling different festivals, New Year festivity and hailing the Independence Day etc. is one of such tribal tradition that we have not been able to give up even after our nation grew up recently celebrating 62 Independence Day of Pakistan, when it was observed that despite high security alert, miscreants were able to resort to aerial firing unhindered from August 13 night onwards, which left at least 30 people injured, including women and children.

Despite the huge presence of police and Rangers in the city, no arrests were made. Miscreants also openly violated the ban on pillion riding while carrying flags of various political parties, and blocked many arteries of the city. Their “celebration” caused traffic jams at various points, causing immense miseries to other citizens - particularly to aerial firing victims, who had to be rushed to hospitals in critical condition.

Sadly, it was not only the illiterates, but even the educated persons also were seen indulging in all these unruly activities, making this precept of the wise men wrong that education is the panacea for all social evils, as for us even this seems to be an utter failure because it has thus far made no difference here.